Introduction: This section covers Paul’s ministry in Athens, after he had left Thessalonica and Berea. While there he tried to share the Gospel with as many as he could.
1 The Dialogue in the Agora or market place
Text, Acts 17:16-21, KJV: 16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. 18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. 19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? 20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
Thoughts:
--Paul had sent a command for Silas and Timothy to meet him in Athens. Paul wasn’t idle while he waited for them—he “saw” the city was completely given to idolatry. Paul may well have passed by Mount Olympus on his journey; now, he was face to face with images of the very “gods” of that mountain everywhere he looked!
--Incredibly there was a synagogue even in Athens. One wonders how much influence these Jews had on the Athenians and how much the Athenians had on them.
--Paul continued his pattern of attempting to reach the Jews first. He “disputed “with three various but perhaps overlapping groups: the Jews, the “devout persons (those who were interested in or converted to Judaism)” and anybody who talked with him in the “market”.
--Luke mentions the Epicureans and Stoics, representatives of two apparently prominent groups of philosophers. Some of these groups “encountered” There is some confusion over what these people actually believed but it seems that in the main they were simply intelligent pagans.
--Some commentators explain the word “babbler” as a figure of speech, like a bird that goes here and there trying to find enough material to build a nest. Others think it means someone who hears a little of A, and a little of B, to make up something called C (shades of Hegel, no?) This could also be a term of disgust or derision at Paul. One preacher explained it as, “They thought that if Paul had an intelligent thought in his head, it would die of loneliness.”
--“Strange” gods may indicate something the Athenians didn’t recognize in their list of “gods”. Some think that because Paul was preaching Jesus and the resurrection, he was proclaiming a “new” god/goddess based on the Greek word for “resurrection.” Similarly the Greeks had ascribed deity to Justice (“Dike”) and Victory (“Nike”) plus other concepts. An incredible list of these can be found on the Web at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Greek_mythological_figures
--A group of unidentified people took Paul to the Areopagus (“Mars’ hill”), saying they wanted to know more about what he was proclaiming. Note how they framed the question and follow-up by saying something like “we’ve never heard what you’re talking about before now”.
--Luke closes this section by adding that the people of Athens , citizens and others alike, spent most of their time trying to come up with something new or newer. Why the Jews, especially, didn’t remind the others of Solomon’s observation in Ecclesiastes 1:9 that there is nothing new under the sun is not related. Had they become addicted to this type of philosophy?
--Paul now made his way to the Areopagus. He had no idea what was going to happen, but he knew Jesus was with him, anywhere and everywhere!
2 The Dissertation on the Areopagus or “Mars’ Hill”
Text, Acts 17:22-31, KJV: 22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Thoughts:
--“Too superstitious” could also mean “very religious”. After all, there were plenty of idols and images in Athens and the Parthenon, a temple to Athena (Minerva to the Romans) was visible.
--Paul mentioned that he “found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.” The opinions of many commentators vary over what this meant but it’s safe to say the Greeks would be equal opportunity worshippers in those days. Talk about inclusiveness!
--Now Paul goes from a general observation to the specific message; “Since you worship an unknown God or deity, I’m going to make Him known to you.” This might well answer the claim that he was bringing in a “new” teaching, as well as proving he was not speaking of a “strange god” as he had been accused.
--Verses 24 and 25 summarize how the True God doesn’t dwell in man-made temples and didn’t need anything from human contributions. The Levitical offerings had specific details and some of these were called “sweet savour” offerings in the KJV. Even so, God Himself ate nothing.
--Then Paul declared God had made all nations from one blood (Adam, then Noah) and gave guidance (limits?) “. . . of their habitations”. Various empires had (and would) rise and fall but none went any farther than God’s allowance.
--Paul then added people should seek the Lord (the True Lord) because He isn’t very far from any of us! He then quoted a Greek poet’s words, “For we also are his offspring.”
--Finally Paul concluded with a warning that all men, everywhere, should repent and that the True God had appointed a day where HE would judge the world by Jesus Himself, the one Who had been raised from the dead.
Conclusion: Disappointment but also some disciples
Text, Acts 17:32-34, KJV: 32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Thoughts:
--This encounter with some of the most intellectual men of the world was one of the most difficult Paul had ever encountered. True, he held his own and he gave a balanced, reasonable defense of his faith even though the reactions might not have been what he wanted to see.
--Some mocked. Greek mythology had any number of tales how people, once they died, stayed dead. There is a story of Orpheus and his wife, Eurydice, and how Orpheus begged Hades, “god” of the dead and the underworld, to let him take her back to the land of the living. Hades agreed with one condition: neither one could look back. As the story goes, they were near the opening to Earth, but when Orpheus turned back to tell his wife, “We’re almost there!”, you guessed it, she disappeared (paraphrased from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Orpheus-Greek-mythology). With no successful “resurrections”, no wonder these pagans sneered at the concept.
-- Others were polite, shall we say: they didn’t mock, but they didn’t believe. They said, “We’ll hear you again about this,” probably with the same sincerity as “we’ll keep in touch”, knowing it wasn’t going to happen. They maybe liked or even respected Paul but not enough to want to hear more of Jesus and the Gospel. Let’s hope they did before it was too late! How about you?
--But there were some who did believe! Dionysius was one of the “Areopagites”, maybe one who had questioned Paul. Damaris was a woman, but we don’t know anything about her except she believed the Gospel too.
--And there were “others with them”; the plural implying at least two. Again, we know nothing about them except they heard and believed. That’s all anyone needs to do: hear, and believe!
--Nothing more is known about the Church in Athens. This small group believed and even though we don’t know much about them, they are our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Even as they did what they could in a very hard environment like Athens, so too we can do what we can for the Lord no matter where they are.
--Paul’s ministry in Athens was brief, but he was headed to another land and more opportunities as recorded in the next chapter.
Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV).
